Let me sing you a song

First to arrive was his regal Geisha sister, Ikigai. She always seemed to move with a grace that astounded him, like the gentle trickle of a stream, and it reminded him much of their grandmother. The smaller yearling struggled to reach his cheek and the massive, scaled boy lowered his head to obligue her, returning her nuzzle with one of his own. A soft grin settled on his featured and his white flecked tail gave a flicker behind his frame.

His glowing red gaze rose upward to see his black and white mottled sister arrive, though there seemed to be a strange tension between her and Ikigai. His grin faltered, concern surrounding his heart. Had the two gotten into a fight that he didn’t know about? Normally his sisters came to him for everything, tittering in his ear over crafts or cuddles as he offered a listening ear, but as of late he felt that they were all growing apart. It tore him, to be honest, as he loved his family with every shred of his being. Fighting amongst them was foreign to them, and he made a note to talk to her about it. The girl offered him a hug, and this time he didn’t need to lean down to reciprocate. His sister had grown up and into her height, which did push a glimmer of pride past his concern. A finely muscled foreleg rose up to wrap around her, squeezing as he returned the hug.

His grandmother arrived next, ever the picture of grace and beauty, and she offered a kiss to his forehead, which he leaned down to condone. His pallid uncle arrived shortly after, offering him a grin as he took his spot and Takeshi offered him a bow of his head in greeting in return. He knew the man had just had a litter with his partners and he so wished to offer him words of greeting, but the time wasn’t right just yet. He needed to wait for the rest of the family, and so he left it a wordless greeting.

Oki arrived, always the reverse image of prim and proper with his remark that made Takeshi bite his tongue to keep from snorting. It was so inappropriate, but so his brother at the same time and he couldn’t imagine it any other way. His father, however, as he arrived, cast his sibling a glance that told him he didn’t appreciate it either way. The Ashen Dragon went slightly stiff at the arrival of the Shogun, his bow deep and proper in respect to his sire’s rank, and he stayed that way as his mother arrived, showing her the same respect. Kitsune was last on scene, fashionably late as ever, but he didn’t mind it a bit. He simply offered her the same appreciative glance, noticing the curiosity that brimmed in her bright eyes that always seemed to be present. It was good to know some things never changed.

Then, everyone was present and he felt his heart begin to hammer in his chest. His tongue felt thick and suddenly he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get the words out. Gods, how embarrassing would it be if he called them all there just to fizzle out? No, it couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen. The glowing yearling took a deep breath, licking his lips and steadying himself. He opened his mouth and began. “About a season ago, I think I was visited by a…a God. In return for some of my scales, he blessed me with my voice. I didn’t mean to hide it from you all, but it’s been…a bit of a work in progress. But I wanted to show you, because you’re the most precious wolves in the world to me and I wanted one of the first words from my mouth to you to be thank you. Thank you for loving me and caring for me, even when I was lacking and incomplete. I hope, going forward, I can be a more fitting son, brother, nephew and heir to Ashen.” The yearling’s voice was a tenor rumble, not quite a booming base but still soothing to the ears all the same. It was the most he’d ever said at once, and toward the end his voice broke, either from being overworked or from emotion, he wasn’t quite sure.

His large body moved, long, dark legs extending forward in his sitting position and body arching as he bend his head in a deep, reverent bow to the wolves in front of him who had helped turn him into the wolf he was.